Baking Talents Take Center Stage

Courtesy Sarah Wilde

Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub Chef Noah Judges Competition

The 2017 Paradise Area Snow Bake - Off Baking Competition had 13 entries this year.  Contestants submitted their delectable creations Saturday, January 28, 2017, at the Whitefish Township Community Center.  Local baking enthusiast, Dianne Clark, organized the 2017 Winter Carnival activity and encouraged people within the community to participate.  The Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub, Chef Noah served as the official judge.  After the judging contestants learn of their standings and the community is able to purchase cookies, breads, and pie at noon.

Penny Clark and Event Chairperson, Dianne Clark

 The 2017 event included two divisions, adult and youth.  The categories included Breads, Cookies, and Pies.  Contestants donate their entries to the bake sale and provide a copy of their recipe.  This is the second year of the event. The funds from last year's bake sale were mainly used to develop prizes and gifts for the first place recipients.

In a contentious bout of cookies, Penny Clark of Paradise took first place for her Molasses Crinkles in the Adult Division.  Donna Knox's Delightful Surprise took 2nd place and Linda Bitnar wowed the onlookers with her Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies and 3rd place.

Elsie and Isaac Holden

Always popular with children, the Youth Division had their own battle for best cookies in Paradise.  Elsie Holden took home the blue ribbon with her Wintertime Chocolate Moisties, while Gregory Mills of the Whitefish Township Community Schools, 5th grade took 2nd place with his Monster Granola Cookie Bites!  The Whitefish Township Community Schools 4th Grade Class members: James Johnson, Amber Moody, Wyatt Moore, and Keegan Planck took 3rd place with their Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Many thanks to Sonny Skeans for encouraging students to engaged in such an activity.

On behalf of the 4th Grade Class, Wyatt Moore

This year there was an eclectic group of breads including Carrot Bread and Cinnamon Buns.  In the Adult Division, Penny Clark's Hungarian Nut Bread took 1st place, Marilyn Shooltz' Pumpkin Cake Roll came in 2nd while Jody Laub took 3rd with her popular Banana Bread. In the Youth Division Isaac Holden took first place with his Peanut Butter Muffins.

In the Pie Category, Adult Division, Linda Richards took first place with her Grandmother's Lemon Pie.

Chairperson, Dianne Clark (left) and Linda Richards

Sales from this year's event will be utilized to cover expenses for the 2018 3rd Annual Snow Bake - Off, scheduled for January 27.  Winter is the ideal time to fill the home with the smells of fresh baked breads and to serve the family treats through the winter season!  Encourage  your family or neighbor to participate in the next year's event. 



In the process of embracing the winter months, the Paradise area community is looking forward to their Ice Festival, February 24 – 26.  Starting with the classic movie, 8 Below, at the Whitefish Township Community Library Friday evening, a Free Winter MarketPlace Saturday, Pancake & Sausage Breakfast Saturday morning, Chili Cook-Off, Ice Sculpture Contest, and Polar Plunge, the entire weekend is filled with opportunities for snow mobiles, cross-country skiing, and snow shoe hikes.  Check the Ice Festival Information flyer for further details.

Blueberry Bread